NWSL MATCH RECAP | Portland Thorns FC 3, FC Kansas City 0

PORTLAND, Ore. – Receiving a brace from forward Christine Sinclair and a goal from forward Hayley Raso, Portland Thorns FC registered a 3-0 win over FC Kansas City in front of 16,199 fans at Providence Park on Wednesday night.

Playing their second match of three in an eight-day span, Thorns FC (5-3-3, 18pts) tallied a pair of first-half goals to grab an early 2-0 lead before Sinclair added her second goal of the match late in the second half. The brace was the third of Sinclair’s career, and the fourth multi-goal match for the Portland captain.

Making a run down the right flank, midfielder Dagny Byrnjarsdottir delivered a cross into the box that took a deflection off a FC Kansas City defender and was not cleared. Midfielder Allie Long collected the loose ball in the box, firing a shot that caromed off the right post and fell to Sinclair, who delivered the finish from close range in the 15th minute to put Portland in front 1-0.

Sinclair completed her brace, tallying Thorns FC’s third goal of the match in the 75th minute. Building from the back, Raso received the ball and made a surging run into midfield, sending a perfect pass to Sinclair near the edge of the box. Sinclair took one touch and tucked a well-placed shot inside the right post.

Raso provided Portland’s second goal of the match, and the first of her NWSL career in the 32nd minute. Midfielder Lindsey Horan started the break for Thorns FC, dribbling nearly the full length of the field before springing Raso free with a quick pass into space down the right side near the edge of the box. With one touch, Raso sent a cross towards the back post that floated over the outstretched arms of FC Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and into the back of the net. The assist was Horan’s first of her NWSL career.

Thorns FC created several additional scoring opportunities as Sinclair narrowly missed the goal on a curling attempting in the 42nd minute of the match. Midfielder Amandine Henry delivered a powerful strike from distance in the 46th minute that sailed just over the crossbar, while Sinclair directed a point-blank header from close range off a corner kick from Henry that was saved by Barnhart in the 48th minute.

Portland earned its NWSL-leading sixth shutout of the season, and the team’s second shutout in two matches this season against FC Kansas City (3-4-4, 13pts) after the two teams played to a scoreless draw on May 13 in Kansas City. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch recorded four saves in the match, including a full-stretch diving stop to push a header by forward Shea Groom past the post in the 26th minute.

Facing a quick turnaround, Thorns FC travel to square off against Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, July 1, at Memorial Stadium; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) with a live, high-definition web stream available at www.nwslsoccer.com and www.go90.com.